Hair curling device



Sept. 23, 1952 BARNES 2,611,377

HAIR CURLING DEVICE Filed Feb. 7, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 iv-'1 0 v i .5 N

1;; en ar' [ZeZZ'Barvz as Sept. 23, 1952 E. T. BARNES 2,611,377

HAIR CURLING DEVICE Filed Feb. '7, 1951 Z'SHEETS-SHEET 2 Patented Sept. 23, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAIR cos-LING nsvrcs Ethel T. Barnes, Evanstcn, Ill.

Application February 7, 1951, Serial No. 209,792

. 15 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a hair curling device.

It is the general object of this invention to produce a new and improved hair curling device.

It is a more specific object of this invention to produce a device which is adapted to form curls in a simple and expedient manner, and to assure uniformity in the size and configuration of the curl formed.

Another object of the invention is to produce a device for forming curls which are uniform throughout their length and without producing a kink in the end of the curl.

Another object of the invention is to produce a hair curling device which is provided with a circular base having a cone upstanding from the center about which the hair is to be wound and to provide such base with a cover which with the cone defines an annular chamber for receiving the hair.

Yet another object of the invention is to produce a device of the character described in the preceding paragraph wherein the hair may be curled by rotating the cover member relative to the base member which rotation serves to wind the hair about the cone and to provide means within the chamber for pressing the hair against the cone. 1

A further object of the invention is to produce a hair curler of the type described in the preceding paragraphs including means for flattening the curl after it has been fed within the chamber so that a fiat tight curl may be produced. a

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from the following specification and drawings, in which: r

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of one side of a device embodying'the invention; 7 I

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the opposite side of the device shown in Fig. 1';

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device of Fig. 1; p a

Fig. dis a bottom plan view of the device;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of thebase of the device showing the central upstanding cone;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the cover, portion for the device;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the device shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the assembled device showing the hair curled therein and showing a wedge member, illustrated alone in Fig. 9. as used to flatten the curl;

. possible.

Fig. 10 is a view like Fig. 3 of a modified form of construction; I f

Fig. 11 is a view like Fig. 1 of the modified form;

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the base portion of the modified device; H1

Fig. 13 is a sectional view along line l3--l3 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a side elevational view of a modified form of construction;

Fig. 15 is a top plan view of the cover portion, and

Fig. 16 is a sectional view along line 1 6-16 of Fig. 11 showing the device with the curl in place therein.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail two specific embodiments, with theunderstanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

A pin curl is normally formed by manually winding a lock of hair about the finger of the. person forming the curl in a tedious and laborious manner. After the curl has been formed then it must be held in its proper configuration and convolution by a plurality of devices known as bobby pins. As noted ,the task is time consuming and often exasperating. The hair curling device of this invention is designed not only to simplify and accelerate the operation for forming pin curls but also to form better and more uniform pin curls than has heretofore been Thus with this invention it is possible for a person to make pin curls in one-half to one-third the time previously required with the full assurance that the curls will be properly formed in uniform convolutions.

The device of this invention is also particularly adaptable for use in forming curls during the process of permanent waving. Aspresently carried out a permanent wave is made by applying a solution to a lock of hair and then wrapping the lock in paper while winding the hair from the end toward the scalp around a cylindrical object. After the hair has been wound down to the scalp additional solution is applied and the hair is then held in place for the tin e required to produce the wave. The hair is then unwound, neutralizer is applied and the hair is then spray rinsed. After the rinsing operation the hair is rewound or set and then dried.

One of the difficulties is that the above procedure produces fuzzy hair and particularly produces kinks in the ends of the hair. Using the device of this invention the procedure is simplified extensively and also, inasmuch as the device of this invention winds the hair outwardly from the scalp, kinks in .the ends of the hair are avoided and the curl is uniform throughout its length. Furthermore, each of a plurality of curls formed using the device of this invention is uniform with respect to the other curls similarly formed.

In using the device of this invention to make a permanent wave, the solution is applied to the hair and then it is wound about the device of this invention, the winding being done from the scalp outward. Additional solution is applied to saturate the hair, and then the desired time interval is allowed to pass before a neutralizing solution is applied. The neutralizer and the following spray rinse are applied while the hair is still wound in the device, and then the hair is dried and finally unwound. Thus many intermediate steps are eliminated and kinking of the ends of the hair is avoided.

Referring to the first form of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, the apparatus includes a base having a cone 2| upstanding therefrom and a cover 22 adapted to be positioned over the base. The base 20 is generally circular in shape and is provided with an edge 23 which has a number of indentations formed therein to facilitate the manual handling of the device. The cone 2| upstands from the center of the base and is provided with an axial slot 25 which extends downwardly through the base. A V-shaped notch 26 is cut out in the base and is axially aligned with and joins the bottom end of the slot 25. Pivotally affixed to the bottom of the base is a clamp in the form of a wire 21, the free end of which is provided with a looped portion 28 so that it may more readily be grasped by the hand of an operator. The wire 21 is movable in a counter-clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 4 so as to open the notch 26 so that a lock of hair may be inserted in the notch and into the slot 25. With the lock of hair so inserted, the wire 2'! may be rotated about its pivot in a clockwise direction (again as seen in Fig. 4) and seated in any one of three locking grooves 29 formed in the bottom of the base member in order to lock the clam against movement with the hair firmly held between the wire and the base.

The apex of the cone is provided with a lip 30 extending therearound which lip is adapted to be inserted in a central circular opening 3| formed in the cover portion 22. The cover is provided with a substantially circular top 32 to which there is integrally secured a depending annular flange 33. The free edges of the depending flange are adapted to seat in a trackway formed on the same face of the base as carries the cone, the trackway comprising an annular dished out portion concentric with the cone and, of course, having a diameter equal to the diameter of the depending flange. A portion 46 of the sides of the base upstand from the sides of the trackway 45 in order to retain the cover in its proper position and to provide an effective closure for the annular chamber. The cover is held in position by engagement of the lip 30 with the top edges of the opening 3|. With the cover so positioned on the base, the base and cover are rotatable relative to each other about the axis of the cone 2|. A V-shaped notch 34 is provided in the top 32 of the cover and joins with a cutaway portion 35 in the annular flange providing an opening extending from top to bottom of the assembled device when the notch 34 in the cover is matched with the notch 26 in the base. A second cutaway portion 36 is provided in the annular flange and located diametrically opposite the cutaway portion 35. The cutaway portion 36, however, does not extend to the bottom of the flange but rather is provided with a base 31 spaced above the bottom or free edges of the flange. A second notch 38 is formed in the top of the cover and coincides with the cutaway portion 36.

When the cover is snapped onto the base as shown in these figures, there is formed an annular chamber 40 about the cone and within the confines of the top and depending flange of the cover. Located within the chamber 40 there is provided means for laterally pressing the hair as it is wound about the cone against the sides of the cone to insure formation of a tight curl. The particular means are best illustrated in Fig. 6 and include a pair of members 4| and 42 located on opposite sides of the chamber and in the form of ribbon-like leaf springs. The springs 4| and 42 preferably have one end 43 and 44, respectively, secured to the inside of the depending flange portion of the cover while the other end of the spring members are free so that they may move relative to the inside of the flange.

A number of holes, all of which have been designated as 50, are formed in both the base and in the cover portion in order to allow free circulation of air through the chamber 40 and thus to facilitate the drying of the curl after it has been formed therein.

The device shown in the figures just described is employed in the followin manner. The wire clamp 21 is rotated from the position shown in Fig. 4 in a counterclockwise direction so as to free the notch 26. The cover 22 is snapped onto the base and the notches 26 and 34 are aligned so that a lock of hair may be inserted in the notch 26 and through the slot 25 formed in the cone. That portion of the lock which is inserted through the slot 26 should be located as close to the head of the subject as possible while the free end of the lock is passed through the notch 38 and cutaway portion 36. When this has been accomplished the wire clamp 21 is swung in a counterclockwise direction to seat in any one of the notches 29 firmly to hold the device against the head of the customer. The cover 22 is then rotated either clockwise or counterclockwise as desired which serves to wind the free end of hair about the cone 2|. The spring members 4| and 42 serve to press the hair against the cone to form a tight curl.

When the hair has been completely wound about the cone the notches may again be aligned with the slot and a V-shaped wedge device 5| inserted therein. As shown in Fig. 8 the purpose of the wedge device is to flatten out the curl 52 after it has been wound about the cone to produce a flat cylindrical curl rather than a spiral or helical curl. The wedge device is particul-arly useful where the customer has a rather short haircut and may be omitted if the hair is long and completely fills the chamber 40.

A somewhat modified form of construction is Shown n Figs- 0 to 16. Basically, the device is the same as the device previously described and hence only those portions of the second embodiment which differ from similar portions of the flrst embodiment will be described in-detail and where the constructions are substantially identical identical reference numerals will be used.

Referring to Fig. 13, it will be noted that the cone 2| is provided with an axial slot'2'5 as "in the previous embodiment. A tongue member '66 has its upper end 61 secured adjacent the top of the slot 2 5 while its lower end 62 is free to move in the slot. The purpose of the tongue is to supplant the wire clamp 21 and thus with the hair inserted in the slot 25 the tongue serves to hold the hair against the opposite side of the slot and thus to eliminate the necessity for the wire clamp.

The second embodiment also includes means for resisting rotation .of the cover relative to the base. As best shown in Figs. '12 and 13 the upstanding sides of the base member -which adjoin the track 45 are provided with lugs or projections '63 which :extend into the trackway. The depending flange 33 of the cover is provided with a plurality of vertical grooves 64 which are adapted to engage the lugs and'thus to resist any ill tendency of the cover to rotate relative to the v base. The resistance created by this engagement may, of course, be overcome by the operator as both 'the'cover and the base are grasped and rotated. The engagement, however, does serve to prevent relative rotation after the :curl has been formed and. allowed to set.

It is desired that the hair curling device of this invention be as lightweight "as possible in order that it may be comfortably worn. Accordingly, it is preferred that it be constructed of a lightweight plastic material, for example one of the thermoplastic resins. The device may easily be formed by an injection molding apparatus of the type commonly employed in the art. It is preferred to construct the device of transparent plastic material in order that the formation of the curl may be observed as the cover is being rotated although clearly it can be made out of other materials which are not necessarily transparent.

I claim:

1. A hair curler comprising a circular base member, a cone member upstandingfrom the center of the base member and provided with an axial slot adapted to receive a lock of hair, means secured to one of said members for securing the hair in the slot, "a circular cover having a central opening adapted to receive the the central opening by an elongated slot and with one of said portions including the free edge of the flange adjacent thereto, said cover being adapted to be positioned over-the base member with the cone member in the opening and with the free edge of the flange closely adjacent the base member to form therewith an annular chamber, and said cover being rotatable about the cone member relative to the base member to wind a lock of hair positioned in the axial slot about the cone member to form a curl.

.2. .A hair curler comprising a circular base member, a cone member upstanding from the center of the base member and providediwith an axial slot adapted to receive a lock of hair, means secured to one of said members for securing the hair in the slot, a circular cover '6 having a central opening adapted to receiventhe cone member, an annular flange .dependingfrom the edge of the cover and provided with a cutaway portion, an elongated slot extending across the cover'andxconnectmg the cut-"away portion with the central opening, said cover being adapt ed to be positioned over the base member with the cone member in the opening and with the free edge of the flange held closely adjacent the base member to form therewith an annular chamber, and said cover being rotatable about the cone member relative to the base member to wind a lock of hair extending through the cutaway portion and positioned in the "axial slot about the cone member to form a curl.

3. A hair curler comprising a circular base member, .a cone member upstanding fromlthe center of the base member and having an enlarged lip formed at the free end thereof, said cone member having an axial slot adapted to .receive a lock of hair, means secured to one of said members for securing the hair in the slot, a circularcover having a central opening adapted to .receive the cone member and to engage the lip to hold the cover on the base member, an annular flange depending from the edge of the cover and provided with a cut-away portion, an elongated slot extending -across the cover'and connecting timeout-away Portion with the central opening, said cover, being adapted to be positioned over the base member with the cone member in the opening and with the :free edge of the flange held closely adjacent the base member toform therewith an annular chamber, and said cover being rotatable about the cone member relative to the base member to wind a lock of hair extending through the cut-away portion and positioned in the axial slot about the cone member to form a curl.

4. A hair curler comprising a circular base I member, a cone member upstanding from the center of the base member and provided with :an axial slot adapted to receive a lock of hair, means secured to one of said members for securing the hair in the slot. a circular cover having a central opening adapted to receive the cone member, an annular flange depending from the edge of the cover and provided with oppositely facing cutaway portions each joined with the-central opening by an elongated slot and with one of said portions including the free edge of the flange ad jacent thereto, a notch in the edge of the base member adapted to be aligned With the last-mentioned cutaway portion whereby a lock of hair may be inserted therethrough and into the axial 'slot and outwardly through the other cutaway portion, means on the cone member for securing the cover to the base member to hold the cone member in the-opening and to hold the free edgeof the flange closely adjacent the base mem ber to form therewith an annular chamber and said cover being rotatable about the cone member relative to the base member to wind :a lock ofhairpositioned'in the axial slot about the cone member to form a curl.

5 .A hair curler comprising a circular base member, a cone member upstanding from the center of the base member and provided with an axial slot adapted to receive a lock of hair, a resilient tongue in the slot for securing the hair therein, a circular cover having a central opening adapted to receive the cone member, an annular flange depending from the edge of the cover and provided with oppositely facing cutaway portions each joined with the Central opening by an elongated slot and with one of said portions including the free edge of the flange adjacent thereto, a notch in the edge. of the base member adapted to be aligned with the last mentioned cut-away portion whereby a lock of hair may be inserted therethrough and into the axial slot and outwardly through the other cut-away portion, means on one of said members and engaging the cover for securing the cover to the base member with the cone member in the opening and with the free edge of the flange closely adjacent the base member to form therewith an annular chamber and said cover being rotatable about the cone member relative to the base member to wind a lock of hair positioned in the axial slot about the cone member to form a curl.

6. A hair curler comprising a circular base member, a cone member upstanding from the center of the base member and provided with an axial slot adapted to receive a lock of hair, a circular cover having a central opening adapted to receive the cone member, an annular flange depending from the edge of the cover and provided with oppositely facing cut-away portions each joined with the central opening by an elongated slot and with one of said portions including the free edge of the flange adjacent thereto, a notch in the edge of the base member adapted to be aligned with the last mentioned cut-away portion whereby a lock of hair may be inserted therethrough and into the axial slot and outwardly through the other cut-away portion, a spring clamp on the base member for securing the hair in the notch, means on one of said members and engaging the cover for securing the cover to the base member with the cone member in the opening and with the free edge of the flange closely adjacent the base member to form therewith an annular chamber and said cover being rotatable about the cone member relative to the base member to wind a lock of hair positioned in the axial slot about the cone member to form a curl.

7. A hair curler comprising a circular base member, a cone member upstanding from the center of the base member and provided with an axial slot adapted to receive a lock of hair, means secured to one of said members for securing the hair in the slot, a circular cover having a central opening adapted to receive the cone member, an

annular flange depending from the edge of the cover and provided with oppositely facing cutaway portions each joined with the central opening by an elongated slot and with one of said portions including the free edge of the flange adjacent thereto, a notch in the edge of the base member adapted to be aligned with the last mentioned cut-away portion whereby a lock of hair may be inserted therethrough and into the axial slot and outwardly through the other cut-away portion, an enlarged lip on the cone member for engaging the opening to secure the cover to the base member with the cone member in the opening and with the free edge of the flange closely adjacent the base member to form therewith an annular chamber and said cover being rotatable about the cone member relative to the base member to wind a lock of hair positioned in the axial slot about the cone member to form a curl.

8. A hair curler comprising a circular base member, a cone member upstanding from the center of the base member and provided with an axial slot adapted to receive a lock of hair, means secured to one of said members for securing the hair in the slot, a circular cover having a central opening adapted to receive the cone member, an

annular flange depending from the edge of the cover and provided with oppositely facing cutaway portions each joined with the central opening by an elongated slot and with one of said portions including the free edge of the flange adjacent thereto, a notch in the edge of the base member adapted to be aligned with the last mentioned cut-away portion whereby a lock of hair may be inserted therethrough and into the axial slot and outwardly through the other cut-away portion, means on one of said members and engaging the cover for securing the cover to the base member with the cone member in the opening and with the free edge of the'fiange closely adjacent the base member to form therewith an annular chamber and a pair of leaf springs within the chamber secured to opposite sides of the depending flange, said cover being rotatable about the cone member relative to the base member to wind a lock of hair positioned in the axial slot about the cone member to form a curl.

9. A hair curler comprising a circular base member, a cone member upstanding from the center of the base member and provided with an axial slot adapted to receive a lock of hair, means secured to one of said members for securing the hair in the slot; a circular cover having a central opening adapted to receive the cone member, an annular flange depending from the edge of the cover and provided with oppositely facing cutaway portions each joined with the central opening by an elongated slot and with one of said portions including the free edge of the flange adjacent thereto, a notch in the edge of the base member adapted to be aligned with the last mentioned cut-away portion whereby a lock of hair may be inserted therethrough and into the axial slot and outwardly through the other cut-away portion, means on one of said members and engaging the cover for securing the cover to the base member with the cone member in the open ing and with the free edge of the flange closely adjacent the base member to form therewith an annular chamber and said cover being rotatable about the cone member relative to the base member to wind a lock of hair positioned in the axial slot about the cone member to form a curl, and resilient means within the chamber adapted to press the curl against the cone member.

10. A hair curler comprising a circular base having an annular groove on one face thereof and adjacent the edge of the base, a cone upstanding from the center of said base and provided with an axial slot adapted to receive a lock of hair, a circular cover having a cental opening adapted to receive the cone, an annular flange depending from the edge of the cover and provided with oppositely facing cut-away portions each joined with the central opening by an elongated slot and with one of said portions including the free edge of the flange adjacent thereto, a notch in the edge of the base adapted to be aligned with the last mentioned cut-away portion whereby a lock of hair may be inserted therethrough and into the axial slot and outwardly through the other cut-away portion, means on the cone for securing the cover to the base with the cone in the opening and with the free edge of the flange slidably received in said annular groove to form an annular chamber and i said cover being rotatable about the cone relative to the base to wind a lock of hair positioned in the axial slot about the cone to form a curl.

11. A hair curler comprising a circular base having an annular groove on one face thereof and adjacent the edge or the base, a lug on the base extending into said groove, a cone upstanding from the center of said face and provided with oppositely facing cut-away portions each joined with the central opening by an elongated slot and with one of said portions including the free edge of the flange adjacent thereto, a, notch in the edge of the base ada ted to be aligned with the last mentioned cut-away portion, a plurality of recesses in said flange each adapted to engage the lug, means on the cone for securing the cover to the base. with the cone in the opening and with the free edge of the flange slidably received in said annular groove to form an annular chamber and said cover being rotatable about the cone relative to the base to wind a lock of hair positioned in the axial slot about the cone to form a curl.

12. A hair curler comprising a circular base member, a cone member upstanding from the center of the base member and provided with an axial slot adapted to receive a lock of hair, means secured to one of said members for securing the hair in the slot, a circular cover having a central opening adapted to receive the cone member, an annular flange depending from the edge of the cover and provided with oppositely facing cutaway portions each joined with the central opening by an elongated slot and with one of said portions including the free edge of the flange adjacent thereto, a notch in the edge of the base member adapted to be aligned with the last mentioned cut-away portion whereby a lock of hair may be inserted therethrough and into the axial slot and outwardly through the other cut-away portion, means on one of said members and engaging the cover for securing the cover to the base member with the cone member in the opening and with the free edge of the flange closely adjacent the base member to form therewith an annular chamber and said cover being rotatable about the cone member relative to the base member to wind a lock of hair positioned in the axial slot about the cone member to form a curl, and means received in said slot for pressing the curl downwardly against the base member.

13. A hair curler comprising a circular base member, a cone member upstanding from the center of the base member and provided with an axial slot adapted to receive a lock of hair, means secured to one of said members for securing the hair in the slot, a circular cover having a central opening adapted to receive the cone member, an annular flange depending from the edge-of the cover and provided with oppositely facing cutaway portions each joined with the central opening by an elongated slot and with one of said portions including the free edge of the flange adjacent thereto, a notch in the edge of the base member adapted to be aligned with the last mentioned cut-away portion whereby a lock of hair may be inserted therethrough and into the axial slot and outwardly through the other cut-away portion, means on one of said members and engaging the cover for securing the cover to the base member with the cone member in the opening and with the free edge of the flange closely adjacent the base member to form therewith an annular chamber and said cover being rotatable about the cone member relative to the base member to wind a lock of hair positioned in the axial slot about the cone member to form a curl, and a wedge received in said slots and cut-away portions to press the curl downwardly against the base member.

14. A hair curler comprising a circular base, a cone upstanding from the center of the base, means defining an axial slot in the cone adapted to receive a lock of hair, said means haw'ng a pair of oppositely facing sides at least one of which is resilient and adapted to press a lock of hair inserted in the slot against the opposite side to hold the hair therebetween, a circular cover having a central opening adapted to receive the cone. an annular flange depending from the edge of the cover and provided with oppositely facing cut-away portions each joined with the central opening by an elongated slot and with one of said portions including the free edge of the flange adjacent thereto, a notch in the edge of the base adapted to be aligned with the lastmentioned cut-away portion whereby a lock of hair may be inserted therethrough and into the axial slot and outwardly through the other cutaway portion, an enlarged lip on the cone for engaging the opening to secure the cover to the base with the cone in the opening and with the free edge of the flange closely adjacent the base to form therewith an annular chamber and said cover being rotatable about the cone relative to the base to wind a lock of hair positioned in the axial slot about the cone to form a curl, and resilient means within the chamber adapted to press the curl against the cone.

15. A hair curler comprising a circular base. having an annular groove on one face thereof and adjacent the edge of the base, a lug on 'the base extending into said groove, a cone upstanding from the center of the base and provided with an axial slot adapted to receive a lock of hair, a resilient tongue in the slot for securing the hair therein, a circular cover having a central opening adapted to receive the cone, an annular flange depending from the edge of the cover and provided with oppositely facing cut-away portions each joined with the central opening by an elongatedslot and with one of said portions including the free edge of the flange adjacent thereto, a notch in the edge of the base adapted to be aligned with the last mentioned cut-away portion, whereby a lock of hair may be inserted therethrough and into the axial slot and outwardly through the other cut-away portion, a plurality of recesses in said flange each adapted to engage the lug, an enlarged lip on the cone for engaging the opening to secure the cover to the base with the cone in the opening and with the free edge of the flange slidably received in said annular groove to form an annular chamber and said cover being rotatable about the cone relative to the base to wind a lock of hair positioned in the axial slot about the cone to form a curl, and resilient means within the chamber adapted to press the curl against the cone.

ETHEL T. BARNES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,042,397 High May 26, 1936 2,173,872 Barnes Sept. 26, 1939 2,270,618 Bowyer Jan. 20, 1942 2,513,097 Klotkowski June 2'7, 1950 

